2 SSWAM - October 2017 | www.ssw-americas.com

Integrated steel production Mr. Akamatsu began our conversation by

explaining that since the company started operations by joining two previously sep-arate companies together, NSSMC offers many advantages that can greatly benefit global customers. The advantages that the Nippon Steel Corporation and Sumitomo Metals Industries, Ltd. had before the merg-er have helped the company both build a reputation and gain ground in the tube and pipe marketplace. For instance, before the merger Sumitomo Metals was strong in the field of seamless tubes and pipes, while Nip-pon Steel’s forte was welded carbon steel tubes and pipes. Combining these two dif-ferent business fields into one company has allowed NSSMC to compete on a wider front through an increased product portfolio, which clients greatly benefit from.

Three of NSSMC’s steel works, which were originally Sumitomo’s Amagasaki and Wakayama Works and Nippon Steel’s Hikari Works, each bring their own merits to the company’s tube production. For example, the Amagasaki works produces high-end materi-al like nickel-based alloys, whereas the Hikari Works produces the more common ‘work-horse’ stainless steel grades such as 304 and 316. The Wakayama Works can produce 10”-16” SMLS and STLS besides their main pro-ductions of OCTG and line pipes.

NSSMC is in the lucrative position to be

Spotlight on...

Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation: a world-leader in the production of tubes and pipes

Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (NSSMC) is proudly Japan’s number one manufac-turer of seamless stainless steel pipes and is world-renowned for its integrated steel production. The company was originally established in October 2012 with the successful merger of Nippon Steel Corporation and Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. Today, it is a world leading manufacturer of special tubes offering tubes and pipes in a broad range of sizing options and in different ma-terial grades such as carbon steel, stainless steel, duplex, nickel-based alloys, and even titanium.

NSSMC’s state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities and technologies are carried out across multiple steelwork facilities, major research centres, and laboratories located throughout Japan. Manufacturing high-quality and dependable products have solidified NSSMC’s reputation as a long-term supplier for top-tier companies across a multitude of industries.

Stainless Steel World Americas had the opportunity to speak with Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Met-al U.S.A.’s Mr. Yuichiro Akamatsu, Senior Manager, Marketing, about the company’s integrated steel production, innovative R&D, its high-quality materials, and the many benefits NSSMC offers worldwide clients.

Mr. Akamatsu recently relocated to Houston, Texas, in July 2017 and on behalf of the company would like to express his deepest condolences to all of those who have been affected by the devastation re-sulting from Hurricane Harvey, which initially touched down on the Texas Gulf Coast on August 25th.

By Candace Allison

able to offer customers whatever tube and piping product is needed, whether the items need to be constructed out of standard car-bon steel or a more specialty material like duplex. Clients can always depend on NSS-MC to deliver the precise product solution required to complete a project, whenever and wherever it is needed.

Superior quality assuranceRegardless of the material being used, all

of NSSMC’s products are manufactured in one of the company’s own steelworks, which ensures that each and every tube and pipe is produced using many developed materials. This is crucial because clients can feel con-fident that all NSSMC’s products are con-structed in-house, using original, non-coun-terfeit material so that a specific product can then be trusted to successfully perform the job it was designed to do. This product de-pendability is essential since the majority of all NSSMC products are used in critical ser-vice environments.

Being in a position to closely monitor and trace the in-house manufacturing at the steel work facilities throughout Japan, NSSMC can strictly enforce integrated quality control and traceability for all of its products, ensuring that customer expectations are not only met but always exceeded. Mr. Akamatsu said that being able to trace each and every product with a full traceability system from the ini-

veloping the high quality products that have earned NSSMC the global reputation as a leading manufacturer of seamless tubes and pipes in a multitude of severe service indus-tries. For example, NSSMC’s nickel-based alloys, specifically UNS N08825, N06625, N10276, and pure Ni (N02200/N02201), have already been used widely throughout the oil & gas, and offshore industries and have also been successfully used as heat exchangers in extremely corrosive environ-ments.

High-quality materials Mr. Akamatsu further explained NSS-

MC’s alloy offerings stating that the line-up of nickel-based alloys includes both com-

tial stage of steel melting to the final stage of shipping the product, allows the company full control and superior quality assurance.

Innovative R&D

Along with its in-house steelworks and built-in traceability system, NSSMC also has two major R&D centres that provide enormous capabilities when it comes to re-searching and developing new products or even improving existing ones. The first is located at the Amagasaki Works (which was originally named Sumitomo Metals R&D Centre) and has approximately 300 workers. The second facility is located close to Tokyo and has approximately 700 employees.

These R&D centres are essential to de-

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Spotlight on...

Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation: a world-leader in the production of tubes and pipes

mon grades like N08825 and N06625 as well as the originally developed Ni-based alloy like NSSMCTM 845. NSSMCTM 845 is standardized as ASME Code Case 2794 and UNS N06845. Its chemical composition has less nickel and molybdenum contents than N06625, since it is controlled to have well balanced corrosion resistance in both oxi-dizing and reducing environments. It is ex-pected to extend its application to various harsh environments. Another developed product Mr. Akamatsu also wanted to in-troduce was NSSMCTM 696, which is stan-dardized as ASME code case 2652 and UNS N06696. This alloy has excellent resistance particularly to corrosion, but also high tem-peratures, carburization, and metal dusting.

Regarding the petroleum industries, NS-SMC has been focusing on the offshore, and oil & gas industry through the production of materials like 25Cr super duplex stainless steel. Mr. Akamatsu detailed that 25Cr su-per duplex is used wherever high corrosion resistance is required, for example to pro-tect against corrosion from seawater or in high-pressure, high-temperature environ-ments such as in heat exchangers. It is of-ten used at topside locations on platforms, FLNGs, and FPSOs as well as in umbilical tubing, and in subsea systems.

Impressive sizing capabilitiesMr. Akamatsu emphasized that regardless of the material or end-use application for the tubes and pipes, NSSMC accommodates a large range of sizing options, whatever is required by the client. “We can manufacture

from a small size to OD 16", depending on the specific grade being used. Our Amagasaki and Wakayama mills have acquired NORSOK certification (the standards developed by the Norwegian Technology Centre) and are able to manufacture from a small to medium di-ameter (OD 14"). In particular, a medium diameter size can be up to 12m long. In addi-tion, we have already obtained STATOIL TR 2000 certification and have developed DP3W independently specifically for offshore devel-opment. Additionally for special purposes, the forged pipe plant in Amagasaki can man-ufacture STLS SMLS pipe up to OD 762mm and DFARS can be supported at all of the mills in Amagasaki, Hikari, and Wakayama. Finally, with our heating furnace grades we can support an equally large range of sizes.”

Looking to the futureWhen asked about future goals, Mr. Aka-

matsu explained that as a company NSSMC is currently implementing a further cost and lead time reduction for products, es-pecially products such as Alloy 800 grade, which will greatly benefit worldwide cus-tomers. The company will also continue to make full use of its strong R&D facilities to improve its production process even more and further set itself apart from the compe-tition. He detailed that on a regular basis, the company organizes meetings between its R&D groups to discuss new materials. The aim is to ensure that knowledge and data are always being shared amongst the team so this exchange of ideas can help to create new and innovative products. These

Company name: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation

Established: October 1st, 2012 (Business merger)

Seamless stainless pipe mills: Amagasaki, Hikari, and Wakayama in Japan

Products: Seamless pipes and tubes

Materials: Nickel-based alloys, duplex, stainless steel, carbon and alloy steel, boiler tube, and nuclear usage.

Industries: Oil & gas, petrochemical, offshore, aerospace, power generation, pulp & paper, automotive.

End-use applications: Heat exchangers, heater tubes, subsea systems, um-bilical tubing, boiler tubes & pipes, steam generator tubing, composite tubing in pulp & paper mills, etc.

Website: www.nssmc.com or www.tubular.nssmc.com

Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation at a glance

Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation offices around the world

meetings also encourage consistent com-munication within the already efficient and knowledgeable team, so they are always prepared to help customers with all of their product needs.

He further continued that as a company, the overall aim is to never become compla-cent. NSSMC will continue to be there for

clients and offer them product solutions and new materials that will improve their businesses and keep them ahead of the competition. He explained that it is vitally important that clients can trust NSSMC to provide them with the highest quality prod-ucts developed from years of R&D and man-ufactured to the highest standards.

Asia-PacificSydney, Australia

Beijing, Shanghai, & Guangzhou, ChinaNew Delhi, India

Jakarta, Indonesia Singapore

Bangkok, ThailandHo Chi Minh City, & Ha Noi, Vietnam

Middle EastDubai, United Arab Emirates

North, Central and South AmericaNew York, Chicago, & Houston, United States of America

Mexico City, MexicoSão Paulo & Belo Horizonte, Brazil

EuropeDüsseldorf, Germany